Waiting on Israeli society to change from within is a colossal waste of time, during which the suffering of an entire nation - torn between an occupied home and a harsh diaspora - will not cease. But what are Palestinians and the supporters of a just peace in Palestine and Israel to do? Plenty.

Those who counted on some sort of a miracle to emerge from the outcome of the recent Israeli elections have only themselves to blame. Neither logic nor numbers were on their side, nor the long history laden with disappointing experiences of “leftist” Israelis unleashing wars and cementing occupation. Despite a few differences between Israel’s right and the so-called left on internal matters, their positions are almost identical regarding all major issues related to Palestine. These include the Right of Return and the status of occupied Jerusalem to the illegal settlements.

But Palestinians are not without options. Sure, the odds against them are great, but such is the fate of the oppressed as they are left between two options: either a perpetual fight for justice or unending humiliation and servitude.

Oh Canada, to thine own self be true, not to thine heavily militarized neighbor. Robin Williams called you a nice apartment over a meth lab for a reason, and now you're bringing the drugs upstairs.

We write to you as two U.S. citizens, one of whom moved to Canada when George W. Bush became U.S. president. Every wise observer in Texas had warned this country about their Governor Bush, but the message hadn't gotten through.

We need the message to reach you now before you follow the United States down a path it has been on since its creation, a path that used to include regular invasions of your land, a path impeded a little by your generous sanctuary for those refusing war participation, and a path that now invites you to ruin yourself along with us. Misery and addiction and illegality love company, Canada. Alone they wither, but with aiders and abettors they flourish.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thirteen days after receiving U.S. Air Force
training to strengthen his troops, military coup leader Gen. Prayuth
Chan-ocha toughened his grip by lifting martial law on April 2 and
enforcing a harsher security law which critics say creates a
1950s-style dictator with "absolute powers."

Washington has criticized Bangkok's regime but maintains close links
with its longtime U.S. ally, partly to balance Thailand's excellent
relations with China.

The newly unveiled security law increases the danger of political
clashes in this Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation.

"We have lifted martial law," effective immediately, the junta
announced on national television.

It is being replaced with Article 44, which allows Gen. Prayuth to
issue any commands -- unchallenged -- based on his "opinion that it is
necessary," the article says.

The announcement enforcing Article 44 ordered all military officers,
ranked 2nd lieutenant and above, to use their subordinates to

“Deeply sensible of their solemn duty to promote the welfare of mankind . . .”

What? Were they serious?

I kneel in a sort of gasping awe as I read the words of the Kellogg-Briand Pact, a treaty signed in 1928 – by the United States, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and ultimately by every country that then existed. The treaty . . . outlaws war.

“Persuaded that the time has come when a frank renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy should be made . . .”

ARTICLE I: “The High Contracting Parties solemnly declare in the names of their respective peoples that they condemn recourse to war for the solution of international controversies, and renounce it as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another.”

ARTICLE II: “The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means.”

Shadowbox Live has had a series of triumphs over the past few months.

  A Tribute to Joe Cocker: Mad Dog and Englishman was a joyous celebration of the iconic performer. The recently concluded Sex at the Box was the funniest theme show the troupe has offered in years.

  And though I haven’t seen Shadowbox’s current staging of American Idiot, various critics have hailed the production even as they acknowledged the limitations of the musical itself.

  But you can’t crank out as many shows as Shadowbox does without the occasional stumble. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Reckless.  

  I’ll start by accentuating the positive. The cover songs are good, as usual, though I wish so many of them didn’t share an angry, screaming personality. Sure, that fits in with the show’s theme, but how about a little variety?